Patient Experience

Quality of patient and family experience is essential in all we do at BC Children's Hospital. We strive to offer supportive, meaningful care and services in partnership with patients, families and their supporters to provide the best experience possible.

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Get Involved

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Our advisories and networks enable patients and families to participate in varied roles including sitting on committees, weighing in on policy design or language, cross campus quality improvements, to look and feel of documents.

These engagement opportunities are always options and participants can be engaged when they wish or not, depending on time or interest.

There are different ways to become involved:

Patients as Partners: Patients, families and their supporters are invited to join our network by becoming an e-advisor. E-advisors provide valuable feedback on a number of different projects such as policies, surveys, and general initiatives.

Focus Groups: Patients, families, and supporters may be invited to attend virtual or in-person focus groups to test, consider or try out new systems or technology.

Surveys or questionnaires: Throughout the year surveys and questionnaires about patient care or experience are available for completion. Surveys may be completed online, in person, by telephone, or email.

?Youth Advisory Committee

The BC Children's Hospital Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a group of diverse, energetic youth aged 12-23 who meet monthly to work on projects to support youth-friendly, patient-centred care.

The YAC creates opportunities for youth leadership at BC Children's as members build awareness of the needs of young people among faculty and staff, and strengthen connections between youth and their care providers.

The YAC operates under the leadership of the Division Adolescent Health and Medicine, and is managed by Sabrina Gill, Nurse Clinician, supported by Dr. Curren Warf, Division Head. For more information and to attend a meeting, contact Sabrina.

Kelty Mental Health Youth Ambassador Program

Youth ambassadors have the opportunity to share ideas and connect with other like-minded youth throughout the year, and to get involved promoting mental health and well-being. Visit the Kelty Mental Health website for more information.

What We Do

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Patient Experience Roadmap 2018-2021

BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals

After extensive collaboration with stakeholders, engagement with patients and families and consultation with staff and providers, the C&W Patient Experience Steering Committee has co-designed the Patient Experience Roadmap.

The collation of all feedback has identified 3 Themes of Work, and to move this critical work forward, three Theme Teams have emerged.

The Volunteer Resources department provides volunteer support for BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, and BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre. The department is responsible for the recruitment, selection and assignment of volunteers for a variety of patient and service based areas within our facilities.

Our vision is to improve the health of children, youth and women. Our dedicated and vibrant volunteers are highly motivated, highly appreciated, and they are our most valuable resources.

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is your ability to find and use health information and services. Understanding health information helps you make safer and better quality health care decisions.

Why does health literacy matter?

People who are health literate have fewer emergency room visits, hospitalizations or worsening health status. Health literacy also depends on healthcare providers communicating clearly and ensuring that information is understood.

How is BC Children’s committed to health literacy?

We aim to make all information and resources accessible and easy to understand. We also recognize there are diverse cultural values that deserve attention and respect.

Healthcare providers are the medical experts and we support them in integrating health literacy into their day to day work, as well as, resources such as pamphlets and instructional videos.

How can I be involved?

As a patient, family member, caregiver, or supporter, you know best whether the health information you’re receiving is clear! If we can make health information easier to understand or find, let us know.

To continuously improve patient experience is a priority and responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. We strive to continuously partner with patients, families, supporters, providers and staff on quality and safety, which is inherent in all we do.

BC Children's Hospital benefits from Patient Advisors, who are responsible for developing, sustaining and evaluating partnership opportunities between patients, families, providers, and staff.

Patient Advisors work in partnership with agency staff to plan and implement strategies to ensure active patient engagement. These roles develop and build capacity around partnership strategies, and coordinate existing and new feedback systems on services, support and other planning activities. They also support health care professionals in practicing appropriate and effective interpersonal approaches with patients and families.

Child Life promotes coping through various interventions to help children, youth and families with stressful events. Providing play and other normal activities can help with this coping process. Child life programs endeavour to meet each family’s unique emotional and social needs. ?

Financial

Travel Assistance

These programs offer transportation support for families travelling from out-of-town to their medical appointments and for hospital stays.

Health Connections - Each health authority has a unique travel assistance program for residents of their region who need to travel within the province for out of town medical care.

Hope Air - Arranges free flights to get financially-disadvantaged Canadians to the healthcare they need.

TAP - Travel Assistance Program - Helps alleviate some of the transportation costs for eligible BC residents who must travel within the province for out-of-town medical care. Ask your family doctor or your medical team for a form.

Other Travel Help -The TAP has partnered with a number of different transportation companies who provide reduced rates for travel to and from medical appointments. Look for the list of "transportation partners".